Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment the Government has made of whether businesses will be able to use air travel for the delivery of goods and services immediately after the UK's departure from the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The contingency measures adopted by the EU, including the implementing regulation amendment recognising the UK’s security regime and the reciprocal measures announced by the UK, mean that flights and the movement of cargo and passengers will be able to continue, even in a no deal scenario. Indeed, both the UK and the EU are committed to maintaining connectivity.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what parts of the Government’s plan for getting an exemption from maritime security notifications in the event of a no deal Brexit have been implemented.
Answered by Grant Shapps
Earlier this year my officials progressed a Statutory Instrument through Parliament which ensures that the UK’s existing regulatory regime for ship and port security will continue to function effectively after EU Exit.
The Statutory Instrument will enter into force on the day on which the UK leaves the EU. This Statutory Instrument includes provisions which enable the Government to continue to issue pre-arrival notification (PAN) exemptions to operators of vessels travelling on scheduled services from the EU into the UK after our withdrawal from the EU, even in a no deal scenario.
Vessels travelling from the UK into the EU following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will need to provide the necessary pre-arrival security information for scheduled routes. Government has communicated widely with operators and has provided advice to them about the change. This was done in the form of a technical notice which can be found here;
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what parts of the Government’s plan for recognition of seafarer certificates of competency in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal have been implemented.
Answered by Grant Shapps
The Government has taken forward the actions identified in the notice on seafarer certificates published in September 2018. We have introduced the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The regulations correct deficiencies in domestic legislation that would otherwise have existed as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This enables continued recognition of seafarer qualifications from EU and EEA countries.
Before the original date of 29 March for UK’s departure from the EU, the Government lobbied Member States to initiate the process of recognising UK certificates following the well-established EU process for recognising certificates from third countries.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's Guidance on how to prepare for Brexit if there's no deal, which parts of the Government’s plan for reporting CO2 emissions for new cars and vans in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal have been implemented.
Answered by Grant Shapps
The Road Vehicle Emission Performance Standards (Cars and Vans) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 were made on 11 March 2019 and will ensure a UK-only system will operate in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the assessments that the Government has commissioned since the 2016 EU referendum on the effect of additional customs checks at Dover of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Lord Grayling
The Government aims to ensure that customs checks at Dover will not disrupt traffic flow, in part by ensuring that declarations are pre-lodged and that checks take place away from the frontier so far as possible. Details of customs checks are a matter for HM Treasury and HMRC.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to manage any increase in the volume of traffic around the UK's exit and entry points, including sea ports such as Dover; and what the projected cost is of implementing such measures.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport is taking steps to improve roads around the UK’s exit and entry points, as expansion happens at many of our ports around the country. On strategic roads, Highways England has published their 2017/18 Delivery Plan which provides updates on schemes from 2015 to 2020, including those that improve access to our ports and airports. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642750/Highways_England_Delivery_Plan_Update_2017-2018.pdf
The Department for Transport is also working closely with other relevant Departments and agencies, and in consultation with the industry, to ensure that plans are in place to address the full range of possible future scenarios at the border following our exit from the European Union. The costs of any necessary interventions are being developed as part of this planning.
Asked by: Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrat - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the contractual agreements are in the Govia Thameslink Rail/Southern Rail franchise agreement on disability access at train stations and platforms on their network.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Train operating companies have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustment to their services for carriage of disabled passengers and passengers of reduced mobility. Compliance with modern accessibility standards for stations and trains is mandated in the Railways Interoperability Regulations 2011 and the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Systems) Regulations 2010. Both sets of regulations are enforced by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Additionally, operators are required to have a Disabled Persons Protection Plan in place. Govia Thameslonk Railway have such a plan which is available on their website.